Schools will reopen in some parts of the country from Monday as provinces made their own decisions on the matter in view of the local coronavirus situation.
Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas on Friday announced that schools in few districts of Punjab will reopen from May 24. According to a notification issued in this regard, a copy of which was shared by the minister on his Twitter account, public and private schools in Punjab’s select districts will operate only four days a week. Moreover, schools will be allowed to call students on alternative days with 50 percent attendance.
A decision related to the opening of schools in the remaining districts will be taken in the next meeting, the notification said.
Per the notification, schools will be opened in Bahawalnagar, Jhang, Nankana Sahib, Sahiwal, Chakwal, Jhelum, Narowal, Sheikhupura, Chiniot, Kasur, Pakpattan, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahuddin, Rajanpur and Vehari districts.
“All the authorities concerned shall ensure the observance and compliance of Covid-19 standard operating procedures in letter and spirit. The schools shall open for 04 days a week staggering 02 days attendance of each child,” the notification read.
Separately, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announced staggered reopening all educational institutions in some districts beginning May 24.
The educational institutions are reopening in districts where the coronavirus positivity ratio remains below 5 percent — a decision made in line with the National Command and Operations Centre’s announcement.
Public and private universities and colleges in districts Battagram, Buner, Chitral Lower, Chitral Upper, DI Khan, Hangu, Khyber, Kohistan Upper, Kohiatan Lower, Kolet Palas, Karak, Kurram, Lakki Marwat, Mohmand, Malakand, Orakzal, Swat, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Tank, and Tor Ghar will open from May 24.
However, in the rest of the districts, educational institutions will remain closed till June 7, and the educational activities will continue online.
Moreover, the schools in Battagram, Kurram, Buner, Lakki Marwat, Chitral Lower, Mohmand, Chitral Upper, Malakand, DLKhan, Orakzai, Hangu, Swat, Khyber, N Waziristan, Kohistan Upper, S Waziristan, Kohistan Lower, Tank, Kolai Pallas, Tor Ghar, Karak will reopen from May 24, while in the rest of the districts, the mode of education will remain online.
A day earlier, the NCOC had allowed the reopening of schools in districts where the Covid-19 positivity ratio is less than 5 percent.
On the other hand, private schools across Islamabad have been allowed to resume classes twice a week from June 7.
A notification issued by the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority on Friday stated that classes up to intermediate will resume in a staggered manner.
Schools have been told to strictly follow Covid-19 SOPs. It is compulsory for students to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
The authority will meet again on June 3 to review the coronavirus case trend. The decision was taken after the infection rate in the capital city climbed above 5 percent.
